EDEM NEWS
SPRING 2017
EDEM NEWS Printemps 2017 | Nouvelles d’EDEM | Ile-a-Vache, Haiti
Recovering from Matthew
EDEM’s Mission E D E M Fo u n d a t i o n i s a n o n p r o f i t organization supporting the education of children and delivering communitybased, integrated, and sustainable development assistance to Southern Haiti by partnering with local communities, municipalities, and international institutions. EDEM is Haitian Kreyol for Help Me.
Haiti wa s str uck la st fal l by one of the most powerful hurricanes in decades. Hurricane Matthew reached the south of Haiti on October 6, destroying everything in its path. First to be hit, the island of Ile-a-Vache saw its infrastructure and agriculture eradicated in less than twenty-four hours. The mayor of the island, Jean-Yves Amazan, reported that some 820 homes were demolished, 2,000 households affected, most farms destroyed and farm animals killed. While all anticipated a major impact, no one could have foreseen such devastation. In the mayor’s words “it's going to require a major effort to help people recover.”
As Hurricane Matthew neared the island, EDEM Foundation maintained continuous communication with the mayor’s office, opening up Ecole du Village as a shelter and keeping all partners in the loop. A well o r g a n i z e d a n d s u c ce s s f u l r e co v e r y demanded that the mayor took charge. EDEM Foundation set up an email chain linking all partner organizations, encoura ging them to follow the instructions of the mayor. The plan was to break down teams into shortterm, mid-term and long-term needs. In the short term, EDEM in partnership with Flying High for Haiti, connected with organizations such as Sow a Seed, Prodev and Maison Handa, to deliver to the mayor over 1000 meal kits for distribution. At the suggestion of the mayor, EDEM took on the responsibility of rebuilding some 200 homes in the communities of EDEM Foundation is a Project of United Charitable Programs, Inc., a Registered 501(c) (3) Public Charity PhotoCredit:VBS Photography
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